International Conference on Sri Lanka Studies (ICSLS)

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    Graduate Unemployability: Values and Perspectives
    (University of Kelaniya, 2005) Karunathilake, K.
    The Higher educational reformers has been critically discussed the quality and the values of graduates in Sri Lankan universities. The reason for this is many of graduates could not get a job mainly in private sector while the government sector had been following strict policy on reform the state service. Under these circumstances, the graduates faced severe employability problems or they have been waiting for a job more than two years. The authorities have taken many attempts to work out of this problem. First; the government has introduced educational reforms to the university sector in terms of improve the quality of education and modify the course structures that matching with the international standard where it has given priority to English medium education and IT. Second; it has made platform to gaze on their students in different ways mainly teachers have realized that the students are important component in both teaching and administration work. Thirdly; the educational reforms have made a competition within the departments in universities by competing additional funds to develop the quality of education. Fourthly; these reforms have been widening the gap between branded and non-branded courses in the university sector in Sri Lanka. Relating to the International University standards that quality of our universities are at very poor level. There are no favorable academic and research atmosphere in many departments including physical resources. There is no job satisfaction among the academics. There are pessimistic ideas than the optimistic ideas among both students and academics. Many of them do not have use the library or electronic media to acquire and up grade the new knowledge. This study monitoring that the roots causes behind this scenario and to identify the possible alternative solution for this issue. The qualitative and quantitative techniques were used within the survey method in this study. The graduates and undergraduates in sociology were the focused group and all of them represent the University of Kelaniya.
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    Graduates’ Employability Skills: Final Year Undergraduates’ Perspective
    (University of Kelaniya, 2005) Weligamage, S.S.
    Enhancing graduate employability skills is considered as an important task within the Sri Lankan University community. In order to enhance competitive advantage for graduate employment, students need to develop employability skills in addition to the acquisition of subject-specific knowledge. Employability skills include cognitive skills, subjectspecific skills and key skills. The labour market needs and the employers’ requirements for skills from graduates are changing. Undergraduate students should be aware of the labour market needs and future employability skills requirement from the labour market. This study was conducted with the objectives of identifying the final year undergraduates’ perspective on the nature of their employment situation after graduation and identifying undergraduates’ understanding and competencies on employability skills. Data for the study were gathered from the selected sample of final year undergraduates from Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Kelaniya through a survey using a structured questionnaire. Survey questions were designed to obtain information on skill needs of sample respondents based on the employability skills identified from the literature review. Findings reveal that the majority of final year undergraduates were expected to select future employment in a government sector and employment expectations are different from one study programme to another. Perspectives on competencies on employability skills showed differences among study programmes. Undergraduates also show lack of knowledge on skill needs of the labour market. This study concluded that graduates should improve their understanding on requirement of the skill needs of the labour market and enhance their employability skills in order to add competitive advantage for graduate employment.
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    Determinants of Graduates’ Employability in Sri Lanka: How can the Employability of Graduates be Increased?
    (University of Kelaniya, 2005) Ariyawansa, R.G.; Perera, R.
    In Sri Lanka, current education sector, particularly the higher education sector faces critical situation with regard to the employability of graduates. Unemployed and underemployed graduates have been widely criticized in the higher education sector. This situation is more serious in case of some graduates, particularly in the field of social sciences. This paper discusses key factors that influence graduates’ employability. Main objective of this study is to identify the expected requirements of graduates in the job market. Discussions with managers in government sector, private sector and non-government organizations, interviews with recently passed out graduates and examining newspaper advertisements regarding jobs for graduates were used as methods of primary data collection. Research reports of the University Grants Commission, other institutions etc are mainly used as secondary data sources. It is argued that the degree programmes have been confined to conventional subject areas and conventional teaching-learning methods. Furthermore, the graduates’ incompetence is the fact that makes graduates less attractive. Also, without having a proper sense of the needs and wants of the job market, mere producing of graduates has intensified the problem. In a fast dynamic and globalized society, having only paper qualifications, which is highly limited to theoretical knowledge, is not adequate. Private sector, NGOs and even public sector are more concerned on skills and attitudes rather than knowledge possessed by graduates. This study identified that the graduates’ practical knowledge, analytical ability, dedication to work, communication and IT skills, management skills and positive attitudes are among the highly concerned factors of the employers. Yet, study programmes are still paying more attention on knowledge components. In fact, changing attitudes and developing skills, which are highly needed, have become great challenges.